It's hard to say. The one featured is a heavier larger car than the lancer. That colt pictured is the galant, There is also the lancer which weighs in at 1870lbs stock, but has a shorter and narrower wheel base. They were very successful overseas, but the galants did very good as well. Iguess it depends on what kind of errain. Both are gettiong very hard to come by now days state side.

Suspension wise. I believe the galant has single a arm mc pherson style whille the lancer has single arm tension and mcpherson

Frankly either would be a good pic, the galant may be better at very high speeds, the lancer should be a lot more nimble.

Mitsiu seemed to favor the lancer in the mid to late 70s although depending on where you lived it was a different car.
One of my fav pics of a lancer in action.

Frankly either would be a good pic, the galant may be better at very high speeds, the lancer should be a lot more nimble.

I'd agree. The heavier Galant would be a more stable platform. But for all out nothing would beat a stripped down Lancer. I've got mine under 800kg... It really takes off when you put the hammer down. No better weapon than lightweightedness

If choosing a Mitsubishi I would build a 1971 Colt. This makes the cutoff for Grp 4 to give you the time advantages the earlier classes provide.
Roy Hopkins will most likely not return next year but there still is some very good competition up there.
With the rules as they are the engine can be enlarged to 1800cc which offers some good options.
The suspension can be made to work just fine on the undulating roads and the parts will take a beating and get you through to the end.

He will probably be busy with a little rally in the "sunny islands".....very nice for them on their win.

I see you have been studying the rules.....

I thought all the Colts would be in class 4?

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be limited to what ever Colt I can get....there are NONE around here for sale,and I don't see many around anywhere.I'm lucky to be living here and to have won my entry for the past two years....other wise I would have not been able to do it.

So would you say that a Colt would be a good "beginner or learner" rally car?

Roy was at Watkins Glen with me a week ago as I delivered a customers EVO8 race car that I have been building this year, they were eying the EVO as an option to run down south.
Neither he nor Adrian think the 02 is suited for that event.

I have been working with and driving the early Colts in competition since they were new. They are a delight to drive but not the most forgiving car at the limit.
This is less of an issue for rally type setup since it is when the car is lowered a bunch the rear axle steers allot. The higher ride height is not bad.

With the mid 70s chassis you can work with larger engines under all rules.
With the early cars it may work best in open 2 liter with an engine swap. I am not sure how that fits in Targa rules though. We had been trying to stay away from the Modified classes there which is where we started back when Roy was running the M3 first few years. I tried to get there with one of my Starions but the $10K needed just to run alluded me. ( I chose not to leverage the equity on my house)

I have a caged 73 Colt here that I have been swapping a 4G63 into. I did not get to work on it over the summer but may get back to it this fall. The car could be available.

I am not sure how that fits in Targa rules though. We had been trying to stay away from the Modified classes

I have a caged 73 Colt here The car could be available.

From the pictures and video of the event it looks like you need a "gravel rally" setup on an Evo or WRX.

I want to start out in standard specification for sure,I don't have the money or experience to step into any of the modified classes.I can't imagine signing up in Open class.....against the "boys"in the Group B Audi.....or the guy in the Nissan GTR......

I have another customers Subie setup on Ohlins gravel spec but it is just a NA 2.5 car so it does not have the big torque.
It would be a decent car for Roy but I expect he will want more power.

I actually need to look at the Targa rules again, they were changed since I started on Roys cars for there. They used to have stock and Mod classes in each division. As I recall they did away with that to get the engine swapping out of the event.

I bought the car and shipped it over from California. I have not had a chance to get it running.
I have not even made the decision to do an engine swap or keep the original 1600 in it.
I have had a NA 4G63 sitting in it but have not finished the install.
The cage was built out west, looks to be built to the SCCA ITC spec. It could use some updating or is fine in historic spec as is.

Charlie, I'd love to see some installation shots and notes from you when you install the 4G63 in your Colt. A G63 swap is something I wouldn't mind doing for the Arrow, but info on swapping that engine into '70s Mitsus is pretty scarce on the net.

Hi Joe,
I am going to get the V6 swap finished first then get back to the G63.
The V6 is gaining momentum and I would like to have it at least yard drive next summer.
I have done G63 swaps, there are a number of approaches to the job that all come out fine.

Hi Joe,I am going to get the V6 swap finished first then get back to the G63.The V6 is gaining momentum and I would like to have it at least yard drive next summer.I have done G63 swaps, there are a number of approaches to the job that all come out fine.

nope, I am working with a truck bellhousing with a 6 speed for another swap But this one at first used an adapter Mating to a Starion box.
Very soon it became clear that I was going to have clearance issues with the low mounted starter and the steering gear.
So I reworked an new plate to mate up to a Mazda gearbox.
Pictured here is a late RX7 box with an B2600 tail housing.
I since have a majorly reworked RX7 tail housing in the car.

I think a Colt would be a great driving car for up there. Not sure how high up the podium it would be having worked on the car that has won the last three years and the runner up the few years before. These guys really invest seriously into the event.

I think a Colt would be a great driving car for up there. Not sure how high up the podium it would be

Not a concern for me......I just want an old Mitsubishi,in historic rally style,to learn how to "drive"on.It will be all about having fun....no worries about placement really.....unless the "top dogs" skip a year....then its game on!

Last edited by paulneartarga on Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.